“Craft is what we are expected to know; art is the unexpected use of our craft.”

“What makes Pixar special is that we acknowledge we will always have problems, many of them hidden from our view; that we work hard to uncover these problems, even if doing so means making ourselves uncomfortable; and that, when we come across a problem, we marshal all of our energies to solve it."

Listening to this book was the most fun I've had with a non-fiction text. It flowed from memoir moments, to management principles, to storytelling suggestions, to areas of science and research. I've always been a fan of Pixar and their unique culture, and in researching BYU Animation's unique culture I am coming to better understand why these creative groups are able to do what they do.

Some of the key things that I can remember off the top of my head include: - Don't feed the beast if it means you aren't protecting "the new" - Problems are always developing whether you are successful or not - Using a variety of tools to understand what is REALLY going on is much better than going with ego - Failure is a multi-faceted concept and an unhealthy view of it can be extremely damaging - Trust in people you bring in, and help them feel comfortable enough to come up with solutions themselves

There is so much in this book that impacted the way I understand organizations, management, and my own creative work as a filmmaker. Regardless of your professional background I believe there is something in here that can be instrumental in helping you solve problems, empower those you work with, and find fulfilling work.

The book is well worth experiencing, but I am also grateful for the series of "starting points" Catmull gives at the back of the book. That list in and of its self is enough reason for me to want to go out and buy the book!